Egypt adopts comprehensive approach for promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms: FM

CAIRO – 3 March 2022: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that Egypt adopts a comprehensive approach to promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as it has been able to achieve remarkable progress in promoting civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms.

This came in the recorded speech delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the high-level segment of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Shoukry indicated that the council's session is being held in parallel with many developments related to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Egypt.

This takes place through a real partnership with civil society with the aim of establishing a new republic that upholds the values ​​of democracy, principles of human rights and the rule of law, in which everyone enjoys their basic rights and freedoms without discrimination, Shoukry said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted firm steps that Egypt is taking in promoting the right to freedom of religion and belief to uphold the values ​​of citizenship, tolerance and dialogue.

He explained that the law regulating the construction and restoration of churches has legalized more than 2,162 churches and service buildings, as well as 74 new churches.

In September, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi launched the 2021/2026 National Strategy for Human Rights in Egypt in the New Administrative Capital (NAC).

The strategy includes the main axes of the comprehensive concept of human rights, which is to be integrated with Egypt's national development path that consolidates the principles of the establishment of the New Republic and achieves the goals of Egypt's vision 2030.

The strategy is the first comprehensive and long-term self-strategy in the human rights field in Egypt.

The strategy will build on the progress achieved during the past years in the field of maximizing freedoms and rights and overcoming the challenges in this regard.

This comes with the aim of enhancing and respecting all civilian, political, social, economic and cultural rights, the presidential spokesman added.